Freedom in Boundaries

Since childhood, we have been pushing against the boundaries. Of course, as we’ve grown older, we’ve been able to recognize the importance of those childhood boundaries—we even establish them for our own children. They are meant for safety and are created out of love. So why is it so difficult for us to accept the boundaries God places in our lives as adults?

Part of the reason is that Satan has convinced us that freedom means no boundaries, no rules. We’re truly free when no one is telling us what to do. But life experience and the Holy Spirit tell us differently. Scripture is filled with boundaries God has given His people—and that is a good thing! He doesn’t come up with boundaries willy-nilly just to kill our fun. Like the good Father that He is, He creates those boundaries for our good. He creates them out of love. As with the Ten Commandments, those boundaries might sound like a bunch of rules. Or they might seem like “good behavior,” telling us to think about things that are honorable, just, pure, and lovely (Philippians 4:8). But as we grow in our relationship with God and learn to trust His goodness, we will see these boundaries as more than just rules to follow and ways to act. We will recognize them as perfect, sure, and right, as sweeter than honey and more desired than gold (Psalms 19:7-11). Within the safety of these boundaries we have freedom—the freedom to move about and live and love. May we, like David declare that “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places" (Psalms 16:6).

Pray With Me

Lord, help me to see Your boundaries as lovingly created for my good. Help me to recognize Satan’s lies when he tries to convince me that there is freedom apart from You. In Jesus’ name, amen.